I read widely and in most genres but romance and westerns. Here you'll find my reviews since 2007, with a few reviews of previously read books as well.

In 2012, I completed an "authors of the world" challenge, reading a book for every country (and a few other entities) by someone who'd lived there for at least two years. I expect to tag these books by challenge and country in the near future. I'm still refining my list by adding books that better meet my challenge criteria.

Outstanding! After two chapters, I picked up a copy of Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, and if I'd had more money I'd have picked up all of his books.I hardly know what to write about this meticulous, compelling novel. I'll leave plot summaries to previous reviewers. I loved the setup of the young Dutchman seeking his fortune in the mostly-closed Japanese trade, his generally less-than-savory companions, the peculiar doctor, and the Japanese midwife with an imperfect face. I loved watching the relationships develop, or fail to develop, including some seriously funny humiliations at the hands of the doctor and others. I loved how it slid into subtle then overt weirdness. I loved the language, descriptions, and emotional tones. I haven't read as pleasurable a novel in quite a while.